Georgia vs. South Carolina Post Game Quotes
October 09, 2016 | Football
Recap | Final Stats | Notes | USATSI Photo Gallery 
Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart
Opening Statement
We certainly made it more interesting than it needed to be. We challenged them to be physical, we tried to dominate the line of scrimmage, which I really thought we tried to do well. We have got to improve how we throw and catch the ball, which to be honest, especially early in the game, there were tough conditions out there. They struggled early with it, we struggled early. But we were physical, kids played hard, very resilient guys.
On being in a close game again...
Well, I think we've closed well when it comes to finishing from behind. Certainly, the Missouri and North Carolina game. But we did not step on people when we had the opportunity. I think its always a concern how you finish games, but it is also indicative of a team's character, how they compete during the process. I think defensively we played really hard, probably got a little cautious there at the end, gave them a chance to make some plays. But I do think we had a good defensive game plan.
On mental toughness due to weather and game changes...
Well, both teams had to deal with it. I think their team probably had to deal with it more than ours, with their families being involved in such and such situations. It really wasn't that much different for our guys, to be honest, the biggest difference was an extra day and how they managed that. I think that was critical, what will be critical going forward, is how we manage a short week.
On clock management at the end of the second half...
That was just a debacle to be honest with you. We got some bad information, we thought the clock was going to stop on the penalty, and it didn't. As it started, we were talking about kicking a field goal, or throwing a Hail Mary. We didn't think the kid could kick a field goal from there because the wind was coming at him from that direction. It felt like it was going to blow back at him. On the penalty, we didn't know where it was going to mark us to. We were deciding if we were going to throw the Hail Mary or kick the field goal. The clock started and it was just mismanagement.
On players response after losses last two weeks...
I was interested to see how they were going to respond during this week of practice. That's why I felt good about this game. They really practiced well Tuesday and Wednesday. Spirited, getting after it, challenging each other, and I really think at this point in the season, kind of near midway, you start to see some teams get better and some teams get worse. I'm trying to make sure we are in that upper half of getting better. We got better this week during practice, really competed, really fought, and I thought it showed out there, from the stand point of being able to run the ball and being physical. We struggled to throw it, so better be glad we could run it."
Davin Bellamy, OLB, Junior
On pressuring the quarterback...
With the outside linebacker group we always tell each other that in past years it has always been a position that has impacted the game when the game needed it. I think today we came through, not just as a group but as a whole defense. The outside linebackers did our part in putting pressure on him [Perry Orth] and it all just fell into place.
On if Orth playing the entire game was surprising...
Not really, we prepared for everything. We knew the quarterback wouldn't really matter because we had to stop the run game anyways. That is what we did.
On providing consistent pressure...
It is the game plan every week. This is the first quarterback we have played that would just stand in there and throw it. Past quarterbacks we wanted to make them move out of the pocket. Today we saw the quarterback stand tall back there in the pocket and there wasn't any need for any type of rush, it was time to pin our ears back and go get him. That group [outside linebackers] is never worried about sacks because we know what we can do. Today it just happened.
Nick Chubb, RB, Junior
On the success of the run game...
Our line played outstanding up front. They got a decent push.
On getting off to a fast start...
We were working all week to come out here and get the ball first, score and get some momentum.
On getting a win over South Carolina...
It is always important to get a win.
Terry Godwin, WR, Sophomore
On the on-side kickoff return for a touchdown...
We went over it every Thursday at practice. We practiced it on a high bounce and that was kind of a low one. My front line blocked it perfectly. I just saw green grass and said, ‘Let's score.'
On it being a frustrating game for the offense...
I wouldn't say it was frustrating because our backs - we put a load on them. They took it over. With the passing game, it is just something we need to work through. I feel like as the season goes on ... we will be better off.
South Carolina Head Coach Will Muschamp
Opening Statement
"First I'd like to say our thoughts and prayers are with all who have been affected by the storm. This is obviously a tragic time for the state of South Carolina as well as Florida, Georgia and the North Carolina coast. The crowd was great today, and I appreciate them coming out. I wish we had played better and given them a better show, but they were outstanding. I'd like to thank President Pastides, Coach Tanner and Sherriff Leon Lott for making this happen today. It takes a lot of work and effort on those people's parts, and I appreciate it. Offensively - field position, three turnovers on third down - we got to get back in the open week and just find out some things we can improve on. All positions are open; evaluation in those positions has to be more efficient. Defensively, you have to play the block, and you have to tackle. You can stunt and do as much as we did today but eventually you have to defeat the block, get off the block and you have to tackle. It's been an issue here for a long time, and that's something we're dealing with and trying as best we can to work through. It's very, very frustrating to know something is coming and having a hard time stopping it ¬- it is very frustrating. We got the open week, which comes at a good time. Our players will be off tomorrow, and we'll work as a staff to improve our team. We've got six games to go, and I'm looking forward to those six games and continuing to improve our program."
On the offense
"We weren't running the ball very well, and, at the end of the day, between Rico (Dowdle) and AJ (Turner) we had 63 yards rushing. So there was nothing in the run game. So, we felt like we needed to throw the football, which I thought was effective at times. And we'd have movement, but then we'd have a turnover. When we can't get out of our own way sometimes it gets very frustrating. We can continue to go back at it, and evaluate what we need to do and improve.
On improving the run game
"That's what we need to go back and look at it, because what we're doing isn't working. We can't continue to do the same things. Right now where we are with the quarterback position with Perry (Orth), it's obviously further along with throwing the football. Brandon (McIlwain) threw long, but his strength is in the run game. When you're not able to run the football, you have to be able to throw it and be able to get the right looks to drive the ball down the field, which we did at times, but not consistent enough. That's kind of where we are right now.
On the bye week
"We just need to manage it the right way, I told the players they had off tomorrow so they can decompress a little bit. The staff and I were going to go recruiting, but because of the weather we need to stay here and we need to evaluate what we're doing. We'll come back and work tomorrow and get back to work Tuesday and evaluate where we are and get good practices in on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday - just try to improve our team, that's the bottom line right now. We have got to get better. I don't think anyone questions the effort, and I don't think anyone questions the want to. We're just not getting the execution, and it's very disappointing for them to not get the results. They have worked hard; they have put the time in, but that's just a part of it.
Perry Orth : QB : RS Senior
On having Edwards and Samuel back...
It was great. They're [Samuel & Edwards] both big time players that made plays for us, so it was awesome having them back. Obviously, Hayden [Hurst] made a ton of plays too, which helps, so we've got playmakers. It's coming, I believe it. I'm not sure when, but it's coming.
On the offense...
I just think in offense you've got to make downs running and throwing...there were signs today that we struggled, signs that we can be pretty good, but like I said, we just have to keep working and figure it out.
On his role today...
They had some different things that they were going to use Brandon [McIlwain] in and we never got to it today. They just told me I was going to start and we'd go from there.
Hayden Hurst : TE : Sophomore
On staying positive...
We have full faith in our coaching staff that they're going to plug something in and it's going to work. These guys work their tails off and sooner or later it's going to click.
On the punt returns...
That was the first time I'd ever punt-returned in my life and it's difficult to get a read on those balls. The ball was wobbling and I thought it was going to fall short and then it took a heck of a bounce... that's a tough one.
Chris Lammons : DB : Junior
On the atmosphere today...
Coach Muschamp prepares us well and we will play on any day and feel the same way.
Bryson Allen-Williams : Linebacker : Junior
On what it's like to not be able to stop them
"It's very frustrating. We knew what they were going to do. We just didn't stop them many times that we needed to, and, like I said, it was very frustrating. We just have to improve and get better on our defense"
On what makes the defense so difficult to face
"It's something that we practice. When we go to practice we practice red zones, specifically, just red zones, and it's something we pride ourselves in on defense. Even though we did have a turnover, we just didn't play as well as we needed to on defense."
On what they talk about in practice
"We talk about starting fast. When the plays start flying, you've just got to go back to technique and start fast. It's very frustrating because you know what they're going to do, and you know that you've got to stop them. We didn't stop them today, and the score was what it was."
On giving up so many points
"We don't want to give up any points. We pride ourselves on stopping people, so, like I said last week, we are a very inexperienced team on offense. The most experience we have is on defense. When it's going to be a running game and we try to cheat the clock, 21 points, that's too much to give up to a great team."
On tackling Georgia's Nick Chubb
"He's a very powerful guy. He's a very powerful back; he's fast. He's a very good guy. He's a big guy, and we just have to go after it and embrace it."
T.J. Holloman : Linebacker : Senior
What made it difficult to stop Georgia
"It was us. Some plays we missed in our gaps. Some plays we missed during game tackle."
On facing heavier sets since the Vanderbilt game
"We practice it; we've been over it. We've got the scheme aligned and got everything set up. Sometimes we just over fit our gaps and we get out of place. But for the most part we prepared."
On using a third linebacker
"Every time they had the big people package with multiple tight ends on the field, that's when we had the three linebacker look. We practiced it all week. That was our main focus. And the main focus is to stop the run, so we utilized that package a lot this time."
On facing three guys who can run the ball so well
"It's very challenging, but as a defense we talked a lot this week about embracing and for the most part we did. But the plays we needed to make, we didn't make them all. So now we just need to come back next week on our bye week and focus on the techniques we have."
On first reaction to seeing a stat sheet
"We didn't get our job done on defense. Our job is to come in and stop the run. That's what the coaches laid out for us this week, and we just didn't do that."
